Roaring around the first turn at speeds of 75 mph, four racers duel for position in the first running of the Indianaolis 500 on May 30, 1911. The cloth covered pits in the lower right hand side keep the hot Indiana sun from the mechanics. Indianapolis Star file photo

After leading the entire 1912 Indianapolis 500 race since the third lap, Ralph DePalma's Mercedes cracked a piston and with only 2 laps remaining, he and his mechanic Rupert Jeffkins had to push the car across the finish line to take twelfth place. Only cars completing the full 200 laps received any prize money. Indianapolis Motor Speedway

A record-breaking crowd filled the grandstands and swarmed around their automobiles parked trackside along the infield facing the main straightaway as the starting field was moved into position for the 1927 Indianapolis 500-Mile-Race. Star file

Speedway President Eddie Rickenbacker at the wheel of the Rickenbacker Vertical 8 1925 pace car. The car carried the hat-in-ring insignia Rickenbacker made famous as a World War I flying ace. File photo

Frank Lockhart holds up a soft drink after winning the 1926 Indianapolis 500. Lockhart, a dirt-track racer from California filled in for owner/driver Pete Kreise who was ill with the flu. Pacific & Atlantic Photos

In the 1930's and for several years, the infield of the Indianapolis Speedway was the place for fans to see and be seen. And the rooftop of your car was a good vantage point. In 1999 there was a change in some of the infield when a road course was added for the inaugural U.S. Grand Prix Formula One race in 2000. STAR/NEWS

Marching bands have been a tradition at the Indianapolis 500 since the second race in 1912 when Carl Fisher ordered "tooters and drummers" to add zip to the event. This photo was taken shortly before the 1933 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. File photo

Amelia Earhart and Eddie Rickenbacker at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, May 30, 1935. Earhart served as the first woman referee for the 500-mile race, and was the first woman to receive an official position in the running of the race. Purdue University Archives

Pit scene during the 1931 Indianapolis 500. All eyes were on the No. 8 Cummins powered Diesel Duesenberg driven by Dave Evans. Not only did was it the first diesel ever in the Indianapolis 500, but he drove the entire 500 miles without stopping for fuel and Evans finished 13th place . Kirkpatrick photo

The front row of the 33-car field for the 1939 Indianapolis 500 jumps past the pace car as the green flag drops to start the race. The front row consisted of Rex Mays on the pole, Wilbur Shaw and Mauri Rose. International News Photo

Wilbur Shaw receives congratulations after winning the 1939 Indianapolis 500. The race was marred by tragedy as the 1938 winner Floyd Roberts died in a spectacular crash. Said Shaw, "This is a screwy business, but I'll be back again next year." Indianapolis News file photo

Mary Fendrich Hulman and her husband Tony Hulman, who were married in 1926, purchased the Speedway for $750,000 in 1945, rescuing the crumbling, weed-infested track and turning it into the premier motorsports showcase in the world. Star photographer Dale Schofner

Waving his hand in a victory salute, Bill Holland flashes across the finish line in his Blue Crown Special to rack up a new record for the Indianapolis 500. Signaling the victory with the traditional checkered flag is Bill Vanderwater, assistant chief starter. May 31, 1949 file

A stunned Mauri Rose sits on the track (right) following his 41st lap collision with the wall. Paul Russo had crashed his car on the 16th lap. They did not remove crashed cars during the race. Indianapolis Star file photo

A mud-splattered Cliff Bergere of Toledo, Ohio smiled and waved to anxious onlookers on May 17, 1947 after his Novi Governor Mobil Special went into a spin on the track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during his first qualifying lap for the Indianapolis 500. Maurice Burnett/The Star

The pit crew for Mauri Rose flashes their driver the OK sign with five laps to go. The Bill Holland crew waits to give Holland the same message in the 1947 Indianapolis 500. Indianapolis Star file photo

The old pagoda at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway rumbles to the ground with the aid of a steel cable and a tractor. The pagoda was razed June 21, 1956 to make way for the new judges tand and pit area to be known as the Tower Terrace. Larry George/The News

Track officials look over the wreckage of Jerry Unser's car. During practice in early May 1959 Unser lost control coming out of Turn 4. The car spun and hit the wall, sending it end-over-end down the front straightaway and erupting in flames. Unser died from the burns two weeks later on May 17. William Oates/The Star

Cars can be seen still afire as smoke boils up after a fatal pileup at the north end of the main stretch May 30, 1964. On Lap 1, Dave MacDonald skidded into the northwest inside retaining wall ans exploded. Eddie Sachs hit MacDonald and exploded. Sachs was killed and MacDonald died of injuries. Herman Halcomb

Indiana celebrities or well-known people Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman, Jr., prepares to say, "Gentlemen, start your engines," from the back of the pace car before the start of the 1973 Indy 500. Leroy Patton

Tom Binford and Pat Vidan talk shop May 14, 1979. Binford was the chief steward of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 1974-1995. Vidan was the official starter from 1962 until 1979. Tim Halcomb/The News

Race driver Tony Stewart of Indianapolis, waits for his car in the pit area of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Thursday, May 27, 1999, during the final practice session prior to Sunday's 83rd Indy 500. TOM STRICKLAND Associated Press

The car driven by Billy Boat bounces off wall after he lost control of his car in the first turn at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during practice for the 83rd running the of Indy 500 Sunday, May 16, 1999. Boat was not injuried. MARTIN SEPPALA Associated Press

May 30, 1999 -- Mark Dismore, left, and Greg Ray collide in the pits during the second half of the Indy 500 Sunday afternoon at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The collision knocked Ray, who was leading at the time, of the race. MIKE FENDER

Danny Ongais of Santa Ana, Calif. slams into the third turn wall at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during practice for the 82nd running of the Indianapolis 500 Monday, May 11, 1998. Ongais was taken to Methodist Hospital for observation. (AP Photo/Tom Walsh) TOM WALSH Associated Press

Arie Luyendyk, Winner of the 1997 Indy 500 pops the cork on a bottle of champagne in Victory Circle following the 81st running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race Tuesday May 27, 1997. Original image is in the RACE3DONE folder in Scans 7 Rami Maalouf

One of the most devastating crashes in Indianapolis 500 history. With less than 10 seconds elapsed in the race, Stan Fox's car is cut in half as it is hit by Eddie Cheever's car during the 1995 Indianapolis 500. Fox would survive this crash, but would be killed in an auto accident in New Zealand in 2000. John Chilton/ Indianapolis Star

Willy T. Ribbs leaves the pits as photographers record his every move, May 19, 1991. Ribbs made Speedway history, this day, by becoming the first black driver to qualify for the Indianapolis 500. Ribbs is leaving the pits at the beginning of his historic qualification run. Jeff Atteberry/The Star

Race fans get a close up look at the gridded race cars lined up on the main straightaway before the start of the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 25, 2008. Charlie Nye Indianapolis Star

Indianapolis 500 driver Ryan Hunter skids into the pits during the 93rd running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Sunday, May 24, 2009 before the race. Heather Charles

Pole sitter Helio Castroneves is in the lead on the actual start of the 2009 Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 24, 2009, after only the second time a start has been waved off. (This is not the first start). Sunday's race, the 93rd running at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, started under hazy skies at 1:12 p.m. (Charlie Nye / The Star). Charlie Nye

Dario Franchitti, No. 10, right, pulls out of his pit ahead of teammate Scott Dixon, No. 9, left, to take the lead from him on a pit stop on Lap 86 at the 2009 Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 24, 2006, the 93rd running at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Charlie Nye / The Star). Charlie Nye

Casey Mears get some last minute instructions from Sarah Fisher as he tries to make the field for the Indianapolis 500 in a Walker racing back up car. Mears failed to make the race. Staff Photo Greg Griffo GREG GRIFFO, INDIANAPOLIS STAR

Ashley Judd, and her race-winning husband Dario Franchitti at the traditional yard of bricks kiss, Sunday, May 30, 2010, at the 94th running of the Indianapolis 500 mile race, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Robert Scheer/The Star

Danica Patrick,left, passes Helio Castroneves as he sits in his pit box during the 95th running of the Indianapolis 500, Sunday, May 29, 2011, morning at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Matt Kryger / The Star Bob Ruddick / for the Star

Sarah Fisher reacts as she comes out of the race due to car trouble during the 94th running of the Indianapolis 500 Sunday afternoon at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Matt Kryger / The Indianapolis Star) Matt Kryger / The Star

Andretti Autosports James Hinchcliffe,#27, front, and Ryan Hunt-Reay lead the group of driver out of the pits during Carb Day Friday, May 25, 2012, afternoon at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Matt Kryger / The Star Matt Kryger, Indianapolis Star

Race fans wore their white makeshift glasses on the parade lap in honor of the late Dan Wheldon during the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 27, 2012. (Matt Detrich / The Star) Matt Detrich/The Star

Driver J.R. Hildebrand backs his way into the wall in turn one just after the start of the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500 race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday, May 26 2013. John Chilton / for the Star

Team members run off the track after starting the engines for the field of 33 race cars for the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 26, 2013. Charlie Nye / The Star Charlie Nye Charlie Nye / The Star

Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan pours milk over his head in victory circle after winning the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sunday, May 26, 2013. Kelly Wilkinson / The Star

The cars of Ed Carpenter, left, and James Hinchcliffe tangle in Turn One on the second green flag restart late in the race at the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 25, 2014. Charlie Nye/The Star

Driver Will power peels out ahead of driver Scott Dixon on lap 170 after coming into the pits in second place during the 2015 Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 24. Power finished the day in second place to winner Juan Pablo Montoya. Matt Detrich/The Star

Juan Pablo Montoya poses for photos with the Borg-Warner Trophy the day after winning the 99th running of the Indianapolis 500 Monday, May 25, 2015, morning at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Matt Kryger / The Star

Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon (9) takes the lead at the start as the green flag waves during the 99th running of the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sunday, May 24, 2015. Jessica Hoffman/For the Star, For the Star

Carl Fisher was many things: developer, entrepreneur, thrill seeker and a P.T. Barnum-esque showman. He was also quite a ladies' man.

One of his amorous escapades landed him in court.

Gertrude Hassler was a church and opera singer who met Carl Fisher in 1903. He claimed he fell wildly in love with her, even begging her for one of her velvet slippers. As a result, newspapers labeled her the “Velvet Slipper Girl.”

The couple began a six-year romance that included his repeated promises to marry her. Carl was selling automobiles and bicycles at the time — years before he would dream up the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Miami Beach, Montauk, or the Lincoln and Dixie highways.

But Hassler stuck with him and claimed she even helped him with ideas that led to his eventual wealth, and she expected to share in his good fortune.

Life was rosy until Oct. 23, 1909, when Hassler learned she had been jilted. She found out the hard way: reading the newspaper announcement of Fisher’s marriage to 22-year-old Jane Watts.

Hassler was humiliated and devastated. And she wanted payback.

Fisher gave her $5,000 and paid her $1,000 a month, until her demands became too much for his new wife, Jane. When the payments stopped, Hassler hit Fisher with a breach-of-promise lawsuit and sought damages of $500,000.

During the trial, Hassler also contended that her health had suffered from the stress.

Gertrude Hassler posed with a photo of her former flame, Carl Fisher(Photo: International Film Service)

By this time, Fisher was a household name, not just in Indiana, but across the country. He had built the speedway and had successfully launched the Indianapolis 500 two years prior. Fisher and his wife had moved to Florida to work on his Miami Beach project.

The lawsuit was one of the most infamous palimony or "heart balm" suits in Indiana. According to the newspapers, it was the scandal of the decade and readers followed the salacious details of the trial with rabid curiosity.

During the trial, friends for the plaintiff claimed Fisher called Hassler, “the dearest girl in the world,” and that he “would give his life for her.” Hassler presented numerous poems Fisher had written declaring his love for her.

Hassler contended she gave up her singing career to work with Fisher on his promotions. She estimated Fisher was worth $2 million and believed she was entitled to her share.

Carl Fisher(Photo: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Photo)

Hassler broke down during her testimony and her sobs moved the jury and the courtroom to tears.

Fisher denied most of Hassler’s claims.

After deliberating five hours, the jury awarded Gertrude Hassler $50,000 — one-tenth of the sum she had asked. Fisher's lawyers appealed; she compromised and received $25,000.

Fisher agreed to the settlement, because he wanted to avoid further scandal and a desire to save his wife from more humiliation.

Hassler’s first purchase with her newfound wealth was a roadster.

“I’m going to get the kind of car that Carl himself taught me to run,” Hassler said.

Hassler soon began to receive hundreds of proposals from gentlemen ready to ease her jilted heart. She married Chicago businessman Frederick Carpenter in 1915. She asked and received a legal contract from him prior to marriage.

In 1935, Indiana Rep. Roberta Nicholson successfully sponsored legislation to end “heart balm” action — litigation in which a plaintiff alleged her boyfriend had promised to marry her but had reneged.